May 2008

May 15, 2008

It's safe to assume that 2008 is a make or break year for Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams.After all the talk of the past week about his so called comfortability or lack there of in the Cowboys defense, he needs to have big season or it will be his last in Dallas.

Going another season without a sack or a forced fumble just won't cut it for a player whose lack of big plays have caught up to his now hollow Pro Bowl reputation. Who ever heard of a Pro Bowl safety being taken off the field on passing downs because he was considered a liability in coverage?

But what's also true is that the same could be said about his performance at training camp this summer.Williams' contract is such that the Cowboys can let him go in training camp and save roughly $750,000 off of the salary cap.

Now he would count $4.4 million against the 2009 cap but that might be considered a small price to pay to get on with the future at the position.Consider that with all the additional cornerbacks the Cowboys have on the roster, the much talked about move of cornerback Anthony Henry to safety can finally materialize. Ken Hamlin is a natural strong safety so it would be a seemless transition. Henry to free safety, Hamlin to strong safety and Adam Pacman Jones in at cornerback opposite Terence Newman. Jones would have to do his part by being reinstated to the league.

May 14, 2008

Free agent wide receiver Chris Henry, who was recently released by the Cincinnati Bengals, says he talks often with good buddy and fellow troubled player Pacman Jones.

They were teammates at West Virgnia and both share the bond of NFL suspensions and long rap sheets. Henry (top left), in an interview with Sirius NFL Radio, said he and Pacman are like brothers. The Cowboys probably love hearing that.

Henry said Pacman's troubles are behind him now. See, there's no need to worry Cowboys fans.

``We were young and got caught up in making some mistakes and, you know, people mature and learn from their mistakes,'' Henry said. ''I think we're both going to be fine.''

Henry said the Cowboys were one of the teams he would like to play for but said they have not contacted him. Dallas does not have any interest in signing Henry.

The Cowboys signed tackle Cory Lekkerkerker and guard Adam Stenavich on Wednesday.

Lekkerkerker has been in the league three years and played with San Diego and Miami last year under Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck. He started two games in Miami last year at left tackle. He was also in San Diego when Wade Phillips was there.

Stenavich, who was out of football last year, was on the Green Bay practice squad in 2006.

Here are a few tidbits I picked up at the Cowboys annual golf tournament today:

* No one will be inducted in Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2008.

* The Cowboys are not interested in free agent receiver Koren Robinson or Chris Henry.

The Cowboys will go with what they have at receiver unless they have the opportunity to get a big time receiver like Roy Williams, Chad Johnson or Anquan Boldin.

*The Cowboys have made no progress in contract negotiations with running back Marion Barber. As a result Barber has been a no show in the team's offseason program. He has spent his time working out in Miami. While the Cowboys don't question that Barber will be in shape, they are disappointed that Barber is not working out with the rest of the team. He is a restricted free agent who has been giving a 1-year tender of $2.56 million.

Barber has made his career out of being the ultimate team player. Staying away from the team while trying to negotiate a longterm contract goes against his personality.

The Cowboys annual sponsor appreciation golf tournament was held today at the Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine. The media had a chance to sit down with Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones in the clubhouse and he talked about several topics. Here are the highlights:

* Jerry said suspended cornerback Pacman Jones has spent some time in Dallas in the last couple of weeks. Pacman is still not allowed to workout at the team facility but is following a workout schedule. The team is allowed to have contact with him and Jerry said he has visited with him several times.

* Jerry said he is not cornered about Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams, who revealed to Greg Ellis last year that he does not fit in Wade Phillips' defense, because of his competitiveness.

''For us to be the team we want to be, in my view, we need Roy to really be the player he can be,'' Jerry said. ''That's possible here. I have a lot of faith in Roy Williams.'' Jerry believes Roy can have a solid year because of the coaching with Dave Campo, Brett Maxie and Brian Stewart.

* Jerry said he is not concerned with the fact that running back Marion Barber is working out during the offseason in Miami (under agent Drew Rosenhaus' directive) and not at Valley Ranch. Jerry believes it will not have a negative effect on his preparation for the upcoming season.

The Cowboys will report for training camp in Oxnard, Calif. on Thursday, July 24 and the first day of practice will be held July 25.

Dallas is returning to Oxnard because of scheduling conflict with the Alamodome in San Antonio. The Cowboys will return to San Antonio next summer.

Also, the Cowboys will break camp and head to Denver Aug. 12 and will workout with the Broncos for two days. Following the preseason game with Denver, the Cowboys will return to Irving.

Another interesting part of training camp this year is that the Cowboys are planning to travel via train to the preseason game Aug. 9 in San Diego. This should make for some great footage for the NFL Films crew shooting Hard Knocks.

May 13, 2008

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips believes his team is just fine at wide receiver. But owner/general Jerry Jones wants a talent boost at the postion. It appears, though, the chances of any new additions coming to town won't happen this year. But what about Koren Robinson? He is available and could come cheap.

Oakland and Kansas City are expected to have interest in the recently released Green Bay Packer. Robinson had 21 catches for 241 yards and one touchdown in nine games last season. He is also a former Pro Bowl kick returner, but first-round draft pick Felix Jones is expected to take the lead role in that department. Robinson is trying to revive his career after serving a suspension and jail time for alcohol problems.

May 12, 2008

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo got a chance to throw out the first pitch and sing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at the Cubs game on Sunday. While Romo (who played at Eastern Illinois) has been known to dabble in karoke stardom, it didn't help in his painful performance at Wrigley Field. The fans also dropped some boos on the Cowboys star. Watch closely, does it appear a woman is covering her ear in one crowd shot? Poor Tony, apparently Jessica Simpson is not helping him with his singing. And anyway, Romo is always so much better singing when he's paired with Mr. Belding.

May 09, 2008

Owens talks about how he dominates the daily lunch-time dominoes games at Valley Ranch. Other topics include his end zone dances and what he looks for in women. Odd reference in there to Sam Hurd, though. T.O., of all people, said he demands a low-maintenance woman. Has T.O. and low maintenance ever been written in the same sentence? Pretty good interview, check it out. Owens was also promoting his upcoming guest appearance on Under One Roof with Flava Flav that airs next Wednesday. He says he gets a chance to play a character and not himself.